lobbyist

noun

lob·​by·​ist ˈlä-bē-ist 

plural lobbyists

: one who conducts activities aimed at influencing or swaying public officials and especially members of a legislative body on legislation : a person engaged in lobbying public officials

The new rule says that if you were a registered lobbyist in the past two years, you can't work for the administration on any issue you touched. After you leave government, you can't lobby the administration at all.

—Jacob Weisberg

Because so many lobbyists have past experience on Capitol Hill, they usually have personal ties both to members of congress and to their key staffers, who vet and prioritize the earmark requests.

—Ken Silverstein

Examples of lobbyist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

By the Reaganite 1980s, roadside raspberry stands that had sprouted during the Summer of Love had evolved into giant farming conglomerates, with their complement of lawyers and lobbyists. —Annie Levin, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026

White House top aide Susie Wiles and a few of Ballard Partner’s top lobbyists are expected to testify at Rivera’s trial next month in Miami. —Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 10 Feb. 2026

School districts, counties and Joint Powers Authority lobbyists insisted on amendments to drastically reduce survivors’ access to compensation. —John Manly, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026

During that hearing, BGE lobbyist Brittany Jones indicated that a substantial number of the company’s employees could come under the purview of the bill, because its broad definition of compensation included not only wages, but bonuses and other benefits. —Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lobbyist

• hobbyist